Before selling or donating your computer, you'll need to wipe your personal and business data without affecting the usability of the machine. Fortunately, Windows 8 provides an automated way to do exactly that. The Reset Your PC utility lets you restore Windows 8 to usable, factory default condition. At the same time, the utility permanently deletes your applications, license numbers, settings and files.

Press "Win-I" to open the Settings Charm and select "Change PC Settings."

Click the "General" tab and click "Get Started" in the "Remove Everything and Reinstall Windows" section.

Click "Next" from the Reset Your PC screen.

Click "All Drives" or "Only the Drive Where Windows Is Installed," depending on which drives you want to erase. This option only appears if Windows detects multiple drives on your computer.

Click "Thoroughly, But This Can Take Several Hours" to permanently delete data. Alternatively, click "Quickly, But Your Files Might Be Recoverable by Someone Else," if you're not concerned with data security.

Click "Reset." The system restarts and performs the factory reset. This could take several hours to complete depending on your settings and the hard drive size. Once reset, you'll need to re-enter your license number and accept the terms and conditions.